USWNT legend, defensive stalwart Becky Sauerbrunn announces retirement

Now, it’s Becky Sauerbrunn’s turn.

The longtime U.S. women’s national team captain — and one of the greatest defenders in program history — is retiring. She joins a lengthy list of generational superstars like Alex Morgan, Kelley O’Hara and Alyssa Naeher who announced the end of their respective careers earlier this year.

Sauerbrunn, 39, posted her news on social media.

Sauerbrunn, who had 219 USWNT caps, finishes her career as a two-time World Cup champion and 2012 Olympic gold medalist. She played in three World Cups, and would have played in a fourth, but missed out on the roster for the 2023 tournament due to a foot injury. 

“I learned early on that we were all just renting our jerseys,” Sauerbrunn said in a statement. “That I got to wear the U.S. Soccer crest once was an honor and a privilege for which I’m forever grateful. The fact that I got to do it over 200 times is truly humbling. I competed with and learned from some of the greatest players and leaders this sport has ever seen, and I consider myself beyond lucky to have been able to play a small part in this program’s storied history.”

Sauerbrunn didn’t play a small part, however. She was nicknamed the “people’s captain” and served as the USWNT Players Association’s president for years. She played a massive role in the fight for equal pay, and her teammates always said that while Morgan and Megan Rapinoe were the face of the public battle, Sauerbrunn was the brains behind the scenes. 

She has also been an outspoken leader and advocate for a number of issues such as women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, racial inequality, pay equity and more. She never wanted the attention on herself, and always led by example. As U.S. Soccer noted in a statement, “She leaves behind a legacy of excellence and humanity both on and off the field.”

Sauerbrunn famously never scored a goal for the USWNT, and holds the record for the most caps without a goal. She did have seven assists during her career, and is ninth all-time in minutes played for the USWNT with 16,909. She’s one of only 14 other Americans to have 200 or more appearances for the national team. 

Sauerbrunn was also a three-time NWSL champion and a four-time NWSL defender of the year. She was named to the NWSL Best XI seven times, more than any other player.

Sauerbrunn wrote in her retirement announcement that she won’t be leaving the game of soccer for good. “I love this game too much,” she said. She’s already a co-host with Sam Mewis on “The Women’s Game” podcast and will surely find other ways to continue making an impact.

Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of “Strong Like a Woman,” published in spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her at @LakenLitman.

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